Jack



Aug. 20, 1957 L. A. SANDA 2,803,717

JACK

Filed Feb. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

1400/5 ,4, 5mm BY L. A. SANDA Aug. 20, 1957 JACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16,. 1955 INVENTOR Z 400/5 ,4. 541m ATTOPMFVS 2,803,717 JACK Laddie A. Sanda, Brookfield, Ill., assignor to Carter Parts Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Ab iimusn February 16, 1955, Serial No. 488,590 10 Claims. c1. zoo-51.1

This invention relates to a jack wherein the jack terminals and contact arms are formed in a new and different manner, whereby to provide a low cost construction having increased utility for controlling electrical circuits.

Various jacks are known wherein the jack element is comprised ofa sleeve having a shoulder against which are positioned a series of interposed insulator rings and metallic washers. The washers are provided with spring arms which extend into registry with the opening in the sleeve, whereby to be engaged with a manually movable plug or switch element extending through said sleeve. Securement of the insulator rings and metallic washers on the sleeve is usually effected by turning and crimping an end portion of the sleeve out into clamping engagement with the outermost insulator ring.

The clamping engagement is provided by moving a pressure member past the spring arms into pressure contact with end portions of the sleeve. Unfortunately the pressure member has been found to strike the spring arms during its movement toward the sleeve and thereby dis place and deform said arms. The spring arms may not return to their designed positions and the jack in some cases is rendered inoperative. In some cases the crimp ing operation is not eifective to prevent the metallic washers from rotating around the axis of the sleeve. As a result the washer terminals may engage other washer terminals and thereby change the electrical characteristics of the jack.

The present invention proposes to overcome these undesirable'results by fixedly and securely mounting the current-conducting elements directly in a body of insulating material, whereby no insulator rings need be provided and the sleeve need not be subjected to the abovementioned crimping operation.

The current-conducting elements are preferably so constructed and arranged that deflecting movement of each spring arm by the plug or switch eleirient will simu1taneously control current flow to a plurality of circuits, the number of such circuits being susceptible of change by an easily effected step of removing or installing a contact element. The installation operation preferably consists in manually inserting the contact element into an opening in" a body of insulating material and thereafter inserting a plug into the opening whereby to releasably but securely retain the contact element in position.

The contact elements ar e pref erably simple bent wire or strip forms (as opposed to the conventional washer elements which are usually employed); These wire and strip constructions, are advantageous by reason of the fact that the terminal on eachcontact element is in direct alignment with the contact arm with which his connected. This direct alignment permits each of the terminals to be visually. associated with its contact arm and thereby facilitates soldering of the correct lead wires on' the terminals.

. One object of the invention is to provide a jack which nited States Patent ice can be assembled without deformation or displacement of its contact arms.

Another object is to provide a jack wherein the current-conducting elements are easily and economically secured in spaced relation within a body of insulating material.

Another object is to provide a jack wherein the current conducting elements are simple and inexpensively constructed forms.

Another object is to provide a jack wherein the termi nals on the current-conducting elements are in direct alignment with their contact arms, whereby to permit quick visual association of the terminals with their contact arms so as to facilitate correct soldering of lead wires on the terminals.

Another object is to provide a jack capable of controlling a greater number of circuits than conventional jacks.

Other objects Will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line ure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, m

Figure 4 is a plan view of an insulator member employed in the embodiment shown in Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a plan view of an insert element employed in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention taken on line 66 in Figure 7,

Figure 7 is a plan view taken in the direction of arrow A in Figure 6.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and of being practiced or carried out in various Ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 7

Referring to the drawings the embodiment shown in Figure 1 will be seen to include an externally threaded sleeve 1 provided with a shoulder 2 for seating said sleeve Within an opening 3 formed in a casing 4.. Within said casing and surrounding said sleeve is a body of insulating (preferably phenolic) material 5. Body 5 is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending portions 20, 21 and 27 for the seating of an insulating insert 22 and a plurality of depressions 6 for reception of contact elements 7 and 8. Elements 7 and 8 are illustrated as wire forms but they could if desired be strip forms. Each of e1ements 7 includes a U-shaped section 10. As seen in Fig ure 2 section 10 is inserted in one of the openings or depressions 6 and releasably held therein by means of a plug 14 formed as an integral part of an: insert 22. Insert 22 includes a plurality of body members 23 interconnected by plugs 14 and 16. Each of members 23 is provided with fiat upper and lower faces 24 and 25. The lower faces of members 23 are adapted to make facial engagement with flat face 26 formed on body 5 so as to cause 22 of Fig- One of the arcuate faces 28 of plug 14 to engage the bigh't on body 5. Correct seating of insert 22 is aided by reason of the abutting engagement between faces 35, 36, 37 and 38 formed on projections 20, 21 and members 23.

Portions of plug 14 are cut away as at 29 and 30 whereby to form a three point support 31, 32, 33 for element 7. This three point support is advantageous in that it allows spring arm portion 12 of element 7 to flex back and forth in response to radial pressure and it compensates for any deviations in the arc of section 10 due to improper bending of the wire.

Extending from one leg of section 10 is a terminal 11. Extending from the other leg of section 10 is the previously mentioned spring arm 12. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2 arm 12 is provided with a reversely bent portion 13 in registry with the opening in sleeve 1, whereby when said portion 13 is contacted by an electrical plug or switch element (not shown) arm 12 is deflected from its illustrated position.

In some instances it is desirable to employ one or more contact elements 8 in conjunction with elements 7. Each of elements 8 includes a U-shaped section 15 releasably held in one of depressions 6 by means of a plug 16 formed as an integral part of insert 22. Extending from one. leg of each section 15 is a terminal 17; Extending from the other leg of each section 15 is a contact arm 18. As seen in Figures 1 and 3 each arm 18 extends across spring arm 12, whereby when said spring arm is deflected from its illustrated position (by the aforementioned plug or switch element) it disengages one of arms 18 and engages the other of arms 18. Elements 7 and 8 are live elements so that engagement of bent portion 13 with the plug or switch element simultaneously changes the current flow in three circuits.

It will be observed that terminals 11 and 17 are in direct alignment with their contact arms 12 and 18, whereby each terminal may be visually correlated with its contact arm so as to permit rapid and correct soldering of lead wires on the terminals. A ground terminal may be conveniently provided by forming and bending out a tab portion (Fig; 1) from casing 4.

Assembly of the various component parts to form the completed jack is conveniently eflected by positioning the various contact elements 7 and 8 on insert 22, thereafter bringing insert 22 and body member 5 together with faces 25 and 26 in abutting engagement, inserting sleeve 1 into the central opening in member 5, moving casing 4 along sleeve 1 to its Figure 3 position, and finally bending tabs 9 down into clamping engagement with the upper faces of members 23 whereby to hold members 1, 5, 22, and 4 in their assembled positions. Insert 22 is made symmetrical top for bottom and end for end whereby either of faces 24 or 25 can be positioned in engagement with face 26 on member 5.

The embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7 comprises an externally threaded sleeve provided with a shoulder 41 for seating said sleeve within an opening 42 formed in a casing 43. Within said casing and surrounding said sleeve is a body of insulating material 44. Body 44 is provided with an annular groove or recess 45 and a plurality of cut away portions 46 in the wall 47 formed by said groove 45.

Seated on body 44 is an insulating insert element 48 having a plurality of radially extending lugs 49 snugly fitting within cut away portions 46 in wall 47. The space between the lower face 50 of insert 48 and the bottom face 51 of groove 45 is occupied partly by a resilient ring 52 and partly by the U-shaped portions 53 of contact elements 54. Each element 54 includes a terminal-forming portion 55 extending upwardly from one leg of U-shaped portion 53 through a notch 56 cut in element 48 and a contact-forming portion 57 extending upwardly from the other leg of portion 53 through a second notch 58 formed in element 48.

As can be seen from the left hand portion of Figure 6 ring 52 is of circular cross section. However, at the points where it engages U-shaped portion 53 it assumes the cross section shown in the right hand portion of Figure 6. Ring 52 serves to allow the spring arm portion of element 54 to flex back and forth in response to radial pressures and it compensates for any irregularities in the arc of section 53 due to improper bending of the wire.

The number of relative positions of contact elements 53 will of course be the same as the number of contact elements 7 and 8 employed in the Figure 1 embodiment.

I claim:

1. A jack comprising an annular insulator member having a radially extending face; a depression formed in said radial face; a contact element having a U-shaped section positioned in the depression and having a spring arm portion extending away from one leg of the U-shaped section to a point in axial registry with the central opening formed in the annular member; terminal means formed on said contact element; and wall means engaging the concave surface of said U-shaped section and the walls of the depression to hold the element in position; whereby when an electrical plug is inserted through the central space defined by said annular insulator member it will contact the spring arm.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein portions of the wall means adjacent the concave surface of the U-shaped section are spaced therefrom to provide spaced supporting portions for the contact element, whereby to compensate for any irregularities in curvature of the U-shaped section and facilitate flexing of the spring arm portion.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein surface portions of the wall means between the bight portion of the U-shaped section and the spring arm portion are spaced from the adjacent concave surface portions of the U-shaped section to provide spaced supporting portions for the contact element, whereby to facilitate flexing of the spring arm portion.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the wall means comprises an annular element seated on the radial face of the insulator member, and said insulator member and annular element are seated in a cup member; said cup member being provided with tab portions turned into positions overlying the free radial face of the annular element, whereby to secure the insulator member, annular element and cup member together as a unit.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the cup membet is provided with an opening in registry with the central opening in the annular insulator member, and a sleeve is extended through said openings; said sleeve being provided with an integrally formed shoulder portion extending radially beyond both of said openings whereby to retain the sleeve in position; and the portion of the sleeve outside of the cup member being threaded for securement of the jack on a support.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the depression is formed in the shape of an annular groove, and the wall means comprises an annular ring of material seated in said groove.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the annular ring is formed of resilient material.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the wall means includes an annular element seated on the radial face of the insulator member and overlying the resilient ring.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein the insulator member is formed with a second depression in its radial face, and a second contact element is provided; said second contact element having a U-shaped section positioned in thesecond depression,and there being a second wall means engaging the concave surface of the second U-shaped section and the walls of the second depression to hold the second element in position; said second contact element having an arm portion extending across the spring arm portion, whereby flexing movement of the spring arm portion serves to engage and disengage :said arm portions so as to control current flow through said contact element.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein the depression is formed in the shape of an annular groove and a second 5 contact element is provided; said second contact element having a U-shaped section positioned in the groove; said Wall means comprising an annular ring of material seated in said groove and engaging the concave surfaces of both U-shaped sections; said second contact element having an arm portion extending across the spring arm portion, whereby flexing movement of the spring arm portion serves to engage and disengage said arm portions so as to control current flow through said contact elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,089,343 Naylor Mar. 3, 1914 Harris Sept. 10, Wallace Mar. 10, Te Pas Mar. 30, Oliver Aug. 3, Lingel Apr. 8, OBrien et a1 Apr. 29, Chouljian Aug. 5, Lamb et a1. Aug. 25,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 7, 

